International experience
During 11 years at Arsenal, I represented the club in 12 different countries, across 5 continents and in 3 different languages. Here is a summary of my professional experience overseas, including work placements undertaken in Stuttgart and Madrid, prior to joining Arsenal, as part of my degree.
Kenya
4-month coaching placement in Nairobi, Naivasha and Nakuru. Perhaps my biggest cultural challenge but also my most fulfilling. I coached thousands of children and met some lifelong friends.
Barbados
1-month coaching placement, delivering an intensive week of coach education with local coaches before delivering a 3-week holiday football programme.
Myanmar (Burma)
Coach education visit, delivering Phase 1 of the Premier League’s “Premier Skills” scheme, which aims to upskill local coaches to deliver impactful projects in their community. Being half-Burmese, it was a real privilege to visit the country for the first time and be introduced to Aung San Suu Kyi.
Brazil
A visit through the Premier League’s “Premier Skills” scheme to provide consultancy to local community projects in Sao Paulo.
Berlin, Germany
I have organised two trips for local young people to Berlin, including this group from Bethnal Green Academy. The pupils were engaged with learning German through football, with the trip funded by the Goethe-Institut London and was the feature of a “Kick Off!” documentary by German TV giants, Deutsche Welle.
Cologne, Germany
I have also organised two similar trips to Cologne, thanks to funding from the Friends of the Goethe-Institut London. Like the Berlin trips, there was a strong focus on football, but also raising aspirations and integrating young people from London and Cologne.
Madrid, Spain
Supported by the Hackney Learning Trust, this trip for 16 pupils from Holy Trinity Primary School followed weekly Spanish lessons delivered in school. During a tour of el Santiago Bernabéu, the pupils were invited onto the pitch by Paul Burgess, the Head Groundsman formerly of Arsenal. Paul spoke about his experience of moving his family to Spain, settling in Madrid and, importantly, learning Spanish.
Bolivia
A visit to Fundación Bolivia Digna, a Non-Governmental Organisation in Cochabamba, which aims to promote and defend the rights of children, adolescents and other vulnerable social groups living in exclusion and poverty. Given the remoteness of many parts of the city where their work takes place, it was essential to communicate in Spanish.
Mexico
Visiting Girls United, another Non-Governmental Organisation, in Bacalar. Girls United runs a number of clubs and coaching programmes internationally empowering girls in local communities through football practices that go beyond the tactical, to develop confident leaders, providing more girls with the opportunity to succeed, on and off the pitch.
Philippines
Visiting FundLife, another host for volunteer coaches on the Arsenal Gap Year programme, delivering on the islands of Tacloban and Cebu. FundLife is a purpose-driven, not-for-profit organisation, dedicated to creating educational and employment pathways for highly vulnerable youth so they may unleash their potential to the world.
Cyprus
Attending the “Multilingualism in Europe” conference in Limassol, organised by the European Commission, where Arsenal Double Club was presented with the 2012 “European Language Label” award for the UK’s best language project.
Italy
Keynote speaker, alongside Bernardette Holmes MBE, at the “Intercultural Sociolinguistics in Sport” conference at the Università per Stranieri in Siena.
Stuttgart, Germany
6-month professional placement at Hochschule Esslingen, as part of my European Studies degree. Operating predominantly in German, I worked in the Akademisches Auslandsamt (International Office) looking after the university’s incoming international exchange students.
Madrid, Spain
5-month professional placement at Just Landed, an online guide for expatriates and international students. I was responsible for researching and writing online guides and articles, as well as moderating posts by users.